Handler for folding tape



March R. MORLEY ETAL 3,

HANDLER FOR FoLDNG TAPE:

F11ed May 25, 1959 2 Sheetssheet 1 ROBERT l. MORLEY WILL,AM A FARRAND AGEN FIG

March 3, R. l. MORLEY ETAL HANDLER FOR FoLDNG TAPE 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Fi1ed May 25' 1959 INVENTOR. ROBERT L MORLEY AGENT trated in detail, it S to be Clear1y underst00d that the Sane is by Vay of illustration and exan1ple only and iS not t0 be taken by Way of lnitat0l, the spirit and scope o this invention being lin1te, only by t1e terms of the appended claifns We clain1:

1] In a gravity assisted tape reproducer System adapted for use With a creased endless ta1)e 'in Which a porti0n of said tape is stored in acc0rdionpleated layers fashion While the remaindeT is driven past a read head, retaining Ineans for supporting Said ta e, Said retaning means con1- rising a pair of identical platf0rn1 Supports, each Said platform Suppoft being depressed having an up er and a 10Wef end, a pair of vertical vvalls attached to Said upper ends against Wh ich the left and right ends respectively of said ta )e can abut aS said tape is folded upon Said Supports, each of said 10Wer ends having a d0xvnwardly eX tended curved lip, Said retaining Tneans having an Open ing larger than the length of either of Said platf0Tn support8 betyveen said curved lips vvhereby tape may be vth dravvn d0wnward1y thfough Said opening tw() layers at a time Z. A gravity assisted handler for f0lding tape vvhich has folds only at equally Spaced 0Siti0I18 along the tape, con11)1-ising: a retainer for supporting layers of Said folded tape, Said 1etainer c0npriSing a pair of tape Supp0fting platforn1s spaced apart and inclined dovvnvardly in a direction toward each other t0 provide a tape wthdraWal space tl]erebetveen Whch is largel' than the length of either one of said plaforms; drive nleans fol uuing tape d0wnwardly 0 said platforms two layers at a time th0ug Said space between sa id platforms and returning tape to be folded above Said platforms, Said drive fneans including guide means positioned below said platforms and disp0sed equi-distant]y betveen said platf0rn]s; and dTve neanS ositioned above and centrany d isposed Sub stantially equi-distant ffom Said PlatforlT1s, Said guide means CO0Peratil1g With Sad tape for vithdrawa1 0f said tape thfough Said Space and said last mentioned drive Ineans returning Said tape to Said latforms 3- In a gravity assisted tape Teproducer adapted for use With a creased endless tape in Which a portion of said tape is stored in accordianpleated layer fashion While the remainder is driven ast a Tead head, Tetaining means for Suppofting said ta e, said retaining nleans con1prising a paif of identical platform Supp0rts, each said latf()n Supp0ft being depressed and having an upper and 10Wer end, a Pail Of vertical yvalls attached to Said upper ends against vvhich tle left and right ends respectively of Said tale can abut as Said ta...)e iS f01ded upon said Supports, each 0 Said 10Wer ends having a downwardly extending curved li Said retain ng Ineans having an 0 ening larger than the length of either of Said platform supports betvveen Said curved lips, lSt and Second b10vver 1T1eans di Tected ffom each side of te tape at the two uppermost Iayers to aid ref01ding as said layers are stored in Said re taining means.

4. A gravity aSSiSed handler for folded tape having folds 0Ily at predeternined p03itions along the tape, C0In prsng: a retainer for Said folding tape, Sid Tetainer c0mprSng a pair of tape Supp0rting platforms Spaced apart and inclined downward1y n a d...rection toward each 0ther O )rovide a tape vvithdrawa1 0pening thefebetvveen Which is larger than the length of either one of Said platfofms, St drive means for unin ta e downwardly o... said platfornls tv0 layers at a tinle through Said opening betveen said patforn1s; Second drive means positioned above and centray disposed Substantia11y equidistant fronl said platforn18, Said Second drive Ineans delivering Said tap t0 S )atfOrmS; gas conduit means, Syn]Inetri- Caly dS )OSed vvith respect t0 Sati(i platfornls, delivering continuous jets of gas dovvnward and centraly t0 aid the f0lding of said tape.

5- A gravity assisted handler for f01ding tape wl]ich has f01ds only at equaHy Spaced positions along the tape, C0mprising; a Tetaner for supporting layers of Said folded tape, Said retainer C0Tlprising a pair of tape Sup- )0rting platfofIns spaced a )Tt and inclined dovvnvvardly in a direction toward each other t0 provide a tape With dTaval Space threbetWeen Whch is arger than the length of ethe1 One of Said atfOrn^lS; rSt drive means for pulling tape downward1y off said at0Tms tWo layers at a tinle through Said Space between Sad platforms and re turing ta )e t0 be folded above said )1atf0fms, Said drive Tnean3 including guide n1eans positioned belovv Said plat forms and disp03cd equidStant1y betvveen Sad platforms; SecO drive ]leanS :;()Sitioned above and centraly (lis- 0Sed Substanta1ly eC tlStant fron1 Said platf0fms, said gude rneans c00perating VVh Said tape f0r vvithdravva1 0f Sad ta )e though said SPace, and said second dTive means returning Said ape to S2Uid latform; and blower meanS I0Siti0ned above said layers and respectively di- Teced at the two upperm0S layers to aid said folding ReeeceS Ced il1 the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Non 3 123 269 March 3 1964 Robert I. Morley et al is hereby cerif1ed that error appears in he above numbered paten requiring cOr'ecioh and tha,t the said Leers Patent shou1d read as correobed be1ow Column 2, line 24 for "Speed" read Spaced column 4 11nes 3 and 4 for "Supp1emetnary" read Supp1ementary 11ne 23 for roducin read re roducin S1 ned and Sealed this 14th da of July 1964 (SEAL) Attest= EDWARD J. BRENNER Comn1issioner of I atents ESTON G. JOHNSON Attesting Officer ESTON G. JOHNSON UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N0. 3 l23 269 March 3 1964 Robert I. Mor1e et a1.

is hereby cerified that e`1'or appears in he above numbered a en requiring correction and tha t the said leters Paen shou1d read as correc ted be1ow Column 2 1ine 24 for "Speed" read Spaced column 4 lines 3 and 4 for "su lemetnar read su lementar 1ine 23 for roducin read re roducin S1 ned and sealed this 14th day of July 1964.

(SEAL Attest;

EDWARD J BRENNER Commissi0ner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN A GRAVITY ASSISTED TAPE REPRODUCER SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A CREASED ENDLESS TAPE IN WHICH A PORTION OF SAID TAPE IS STORED IN ACCORDIAN-PLEATED LAYERS FASHION WHILE THE REMAINDER IS DRIVEN PAST A READ HEAD, RETAINING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID TAPE, SAID RETAINING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF IDENTICAL PLATFORM SUPPORTS, EACH SAID PLATFORM SUPPORT BEING DEPRESSED HAVING AN UPPER AND A LOWER END, A PAIR OF VERTICAL WALLS ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER ENDS AGAINST WHICH THE LEFT AND RIGHT ENDS RESPECTIVELY OF SAID TAPE CAN ABUT AS SAID TAPE IS FOLDED UPON SAID SUPPORTS, EACH OF SAID LOWER ENDS HAVING A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDED CURVE LIP, SAID RETAINING MEANS HAVING AN OPENING LARGER THAN THE LENGTH OF EITHER OF SAID PLATFORM SUPPORTS BETWEEN SAID CURVED LIPS WHEREBY TAPE MAY BE WITHDRAWN DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING TWO LAYERS AT A TIME. 